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Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
  • Andy Thomson
  • Dennis Rourke
  • Andy Thomson
  • Dennis Rourke

Gibb River Road Trip - 2026

Deno and Andy hitting the road! Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 10, 2026
    Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    The Intrepid Campers leave Home
    The Intrepid Campers leave HomeSilo Art by the Nyngan Bowlo

    Nyngan Bowling Club

    Aug 10–11 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 10 °C

    Today was Day 1 leaving Seaforth and driving 560km to Nyngan. We stopped in Lithgow for lunch. Arriving at 5:30pm we had a quick drink at the Bowlo before a couple of colourful locals organised a courtesy bus to the RSL. It was then a couple more drinks, dinner and back to our free camp for night 1 in the roof top tent. It was a great first day despite having driven through rain for most of the journey.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Goat CountryWilcannia Police Station 1880Another pub another Happy Hour

    Broken Hill Racecourse

    Aug 11–12 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Today’s drive took us 585 km to Broken Hill. We began the day with a visit to ‘The Big Bogan’ in downtown Nyngan. It was then on to Wilcannia for lunch and a partial fuel top up. The town also has impressive sandstone buildings which date back to the 1880s. It was then westward into a slight headwind which increased fuel consumption slightly but was still a huge drop from yesterday down from 20.2 to 16.1 litres per 100km. The road was flat and took us past thousands of wild goats plus one emu. We had a $15 seniors meal and a couple of drinks at the Broken Hill Hotel. Just what we needed. The bar had many impressive sporting memorabilia. It was then back to the racecourse, a tech catchup in the front seat and bed. Day two done.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Cobar racecourse
    Cobar racecourseWorking on the inverterHappy Hour in Cobar

    Cobar

    Aug 12–13 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    This morning in Broken Hill we had to deal with a failed inverter which stopped us from being able to cook, use Starlink…
    After an unsuccessful visit to an auto electrician we decided to head back east. After lunch in Wilcannia, we headed to Cobar for the night. We have a couple of last ditch things to try with the inverter. If that fails we will buy a propane stove and explore the Darling River Run between here and Bourke. Stay posted!Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Working on the inverterFinally, a happy camper!Bourke Silo ArtPercy HobsonThe Cunnamulla FellaCunnamulla Bush Camp

    Cunnamulla Bushcamp

    Aug 13–14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    It was an interesting day. We woke to a clear 7C day in Cobar. There was a miners memorial next to our camp which was interesting. After unsuccessfully trying to fix the inverter, we headed into town to buy a little propane stove. We then headed north out of town towards Bourke 257km away. We refueled and had a look at some great silo art which features the first indigenous athlete to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. Deno managed to pick up a 12v adaptor for the Starlink. It was decision time. We decided to push on to Cunnamulla today entering Queensland along the way. From there we will head north then west. Today’s drive was 410kmRead more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Tambo lunch stopBarcaldine freecamp

    Barcaldine

    Aug 14–15 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    It was another cool morning, Leaving town on the Matilda Way, we passed some silo art on the way out. We stopped at Charleville to see the WW2 secret American Airbase but it was closed. Our next stop was Tambo for lunch by the boab trees. The “Sculptures in the Grass” park nearby was impressive.

    From Tambo we travelled north through Blackall on to Barcaldine where we stayed overnight in a free camp. We had travelled another 591km. Time for a beer    Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Tree of Knowledge
    Tree of KnowledgeBarcaldineAron's Wall, WintonCloncurryPost Office Hotel

    Copper Mine Freedom Camp, Cloncurry

    August 15 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We left Barcaldine just before 9am stopping to visit “The Tree of Knowledge”, site of the 1891 shearers strike which saw 13 miners imprisoned and the others forced to back down. It was the birth of the union movement.
    We passed through Longreach and then had lunch in Winton. We had a look at Aron’s Wall created by a German who found an opal in the 60s. He bought a house and then spent the rest of his life creating Aron’s Wall. We then headed for Cloncurry where we stayed at the Coppermine Creek Freedom Camp. Free! After a trip of 618km, we headed for the Post Office Hotel for much needed refreshments.    Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    The track in
    The track inWhat the old town once included

    Mary Kathleen

    August 16 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Site of the old Mary Kathleen uranium mine. The abandoned mine is quite spectacular. It was a rough 6km four wheel drive in but well worth the effort. The photos show the deep open-cut mine which is visually spectacular. We then retraced our steps to what is left of the township which once included a cinema, golf course, shops, schools and housing for thousands of people.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Mt Isa free camp
    Mt Isa free campInside the Visitor Centre museum

    Mt Isa Free Camp

    Aug 16–17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    From Mary Katherine we drove on to here, Mount Isa. After checking out the very basic free camp we headed for the Visitors Centre where we booked to do a three hour underground mine “Hard Times” tour tomorrow morning at 9am. We then headed for the servo to fill up after having travelled 767km since the last fill. The bill: $327.08. 136 litres. Our consumption since the last fill: 17.72c/L. Back at the free camp we caught up on phone messages and posts. It was then Happy Hour, dinner and bed. So ended Day 7.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Camooweal Billabong
    Camooweal BillabongCamooweal Billabong

    Camooweal Billabong

    Aug 17–18 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We spent the morning doing the “Hard Times” underground mine tour in Mt Isa. We began above ground where Mark, our guide, gave us a potted history of mining in the Isa. It was then into the cage and down to the mine. He showed us various aspects of mining over the years before we had morning tea in one of the Cribs (lunchrooms).

    After lunch we headed 195 km to one of our favourite spots, Camooweal Billabong where we got a spot right on the water. The bird life was amazing.    Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Renner Springs Roadhouse

    Renner Springs Camp Ground

    August 18 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    This morning we headed west along the Barkly Highway until it met the Stuart Highway at Three Ways. We headed south to Tennant Creek for cheaper fuel before retracing our steps and heading to Renner Springs overnight. We had a powered site to see if the inverter would work off 240v which it did.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Mataranka Thermal Pool
    Larrimah PubLarrimah PubLarrimah PubMataranka Thermal PoolFrom "We of the Never Never"Mataranka Camp Site

    Mataranka Thermal Pool

    August 19 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We headed north on the Stuart again. Our first stop was Elliot, the town used as a staging point for troops going to and from Darwin during WW2. Dad would have passed through here in 1942 when he was travelling to Darwin from Adelaide.

    Our next stop was the pub in Daly Waters for a beer. It was Deno’s first visit.

    Then it was another pub at Larrimah further north. Finally it was Mataranka Thermal Springs overnight. We indulged in the springs and then had a quick look at an old building from the film “We of the Never Never”. Happy Hour at the pub followed and that was Day 10. We had travelled 407km that day.    Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Lake Argyle Infinity Pool
    Morning break at Victoria RiverThe dreaded quarantine officers got us!Lake Argyle CampsiteLake Argyle Infinity Pool1View from the poolHappy Hour

    Lake Argyle

    August 20 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We drove 615 km today ending at the G’day Park in Lake Argyle. Our first stop was Katherine where we shopped and fueled up. Along the way we stopped for lunch at Victoria River. It was a lovely landscape with beautiful rock formations and boab trees. We crossed into Western Australia where we lost fruit, veggies and all out timber. We weren’t impressed! We stayed overnight at Lake Argyle. Happy Hour at the pub provided great live music from two guitarists who sang and played well. One talented guy from the audience joined them for a jam with his harmonica.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Kununurra Campsite
    Ord River DamOrd RiverWyndhamWyndhamPrisoners locked within trunkDescent to The GrottoThe GrottoThe GrottoThe GrottoMolly's GorgeKununurra CampsiteView from CampsiteIvanhoe CrossingCelebrity ParkKelly's Knob LookoutKelly's Knob Lookoit

    Kununurra

    August 21 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    This morning we drove to view the impressive Ord River dam and surrounds. We then headed for Kununurra where we signed in to the camp site for two nights before heading to Wyndham, 70km away. There we viewed the confluence of five rivers at an estuary. From there we visited an Afghan Cemetery where the old cameleers and their camels were buried together. Our next stop was an off road 22km track to “The Prison Tree” where Aboriginal prisoners were held during treks to the courts in the early 1900s. It was then a swim at “The Grotto”. 140 stone steps down a steep cliff face took you to a beautiful 100m deep hole. Our last stop before the pub was at Molly’s Gorge, another swimming opportunity. Our camp site was beautiful. Day2: we had a visit to Ivanhoe Crossing, a causeway across the Ord River. We swam in the pool and I wandered around ‘Celebrity Park’ where trees had been planted by visiting celebs. Then late in the afternoon we climbed Kelly’s Knob where we had 360 degree views of the area.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026

    Mary Pool Freecamp

    August 23 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    We drove 482km today passing through Halls Creek. From there we drove 18km out of town to the old town where gold was first discovered in 1885. The highway was littered with termite mounds and roadside scrub fires. Our destination was Mary Pool, a free camp on the very dry Mary River.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Sunset Over Cable Beach
    Feet in the Indian OceanCable Beach Surf ClubSunset Over Cable Beach

    Cable Beach, Broome

    August 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Our plan was to break our journey to Broome at a rest area and go to Geiki Gorge along the way. After an 18km drive into the gorge we found it closed due to flood damage. So we decided to push on to Broome where we checked into Cable Beach Van Park for four nights. We then headed to the beach, a beer and sunset over the Indian Ocean. Pretty special! Day 2: Broome. We did lookouts, a brewery and a pub. The photos explain.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Talbot Bay PontoonTawny Nurse SharksFrom the air as we leftThe second Tawny of the day!Cygnet Bay Oyster FarmBeagle Bay

    Horizontal Falls

    August 27 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Today was the much awaited Horizontal Falls. It was an hour’s seaplane flight to Talbot Bay adjacent to Horizontal Falls. On board a huge pontoon we enjoyed a beautiful breakfast and morning tea. We were taken on three boat rides, the first to Mangoulan (Slug) Island where the geology was amazing and then Turtle Reef where the Aborigines harvest seafood stranded by the enormous local tides. Our second boat ride was to incredible rock formations where rock strata had been bent and twisted when tectonic plates collided. We also got to swim in a tank while Tawny Nurse Sharks were fed. And the finale was the incredible Horizontal Falls where the boat powered through the pummelling water generated as the tide pushed huge volumes of water through the 7m gap. From there it was a visit to Cygnet Bay Oyster Farm and and the 1915 hand built church at Beagle Bay. What a day!Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Tunnel Creek
    Boab Prison TreeDerbyDerbyDerbyTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekTunnel CreekWindjana GorgeWindjana GorgeWindjana GorgeWindjana GorgeWindjana Gorge1Windjana Gorge

    Windjana Gorge

    August 28 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Today took us to Derby where we viewed the Prison Boab tree, the old gaol and some sculptures before heading down the Gibb. Our first stop was a 55km rough, off road diversion to Tunnel Creek. Wading through the cave’s creek with a torch was certainly an experience. From there we headed to Windjana gorge to camp overnight. We hiked into the gorge in the late afternoon which produced stunning photographs.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026

    Galvans Gorge

    August 29 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Farther along the Gibb we came to another oasis in the desert, Galvans Gorge. It was perfect for a swim. It was a 2km return track to the gorge.

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026

    Drysdale River Station

    Aug 29–30 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We drove 389km on the Gibb today. From the two gorges already cited, we filled up at Mount Barnett Roadhouse before heading eventually to our overnight at Drysdale River Station. The road was far less difficult than we thought although we helped one guy who had blown two tyres, giving him a lift 15km to a million acre station where he was advising with genetics and animal husbandry. We also helped another guy who was having trouble with a tyre. The station had a bar which was perfect after a long dusty drive.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Mitchell's Falls
    Rock ArtRock Art SiteRoad in to Mitchell'sLetting air out of the tyresCooling OffView from the chopperMitchell' FallsMitchell's FallsMitchell's FallsMitchell's FallsMitchell's FallsMitchell's Falls

    Mitchell Falls

    August 30 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Today we drove 183km on terrible corrugated roads to Mitchell River NP. We took air out of the tyres and just persevered. Along the way there was some rock art. The road was awful but the scenery was really tropical. We let air out of the tyres at on stage. It was a tough grade 4 walk to the gorge (4.5km) with a couple of stops in 36C temps. We had a refreshing swim under a waterfall and got some great photos. We came back by chopper getting aerials of the area. We then drove back to Drysdale Station for the night.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Rum Tasting Paddle
    Rum Tasting PaddleCampfire at Saddle Creek

    Hoochery Rum Distillery

    August 31 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    We left Drysdale River at 8:15 heading back to the Gibb River where we headed east. It was a long tedious trip on a corrugated unsealed road. It was goodbye and good riddance Gibb River Road. We finally made it to Kununurra where we toured the Hoochery Rum Distillery. It was then on to a free camp here at Saddle Creek. A beer and a fire were very welcome. We lost 90 minutes at the border.Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Edith Falls
    Edith Falls - Leliyn CampgroundEdith FallsEdith FallsMade it!Top FallsView from return walk

    Edith Falls

    September 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We left the rest stop at 8:30 after an air filter change and headed for Katherine where we refuelled. It was on to Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park. I booked for two nights along the way. We travelled 448km. Our first priority was a swim by the falls. It was a 160m swim to the falls but it beautiful, just as I remember it when Cheryl and I came here on The Big Lap in 2019. It was then domestics and HH. It was certainly a lovely place.
    The following morning we hiked a loop track to the top waterfall where we swam and allowed the currents to drag us along. It was then back for more swims at the bottom pool.    Read more

  • Gibb River Road Trip - 2026
    Gunlob lower poolCroc trap

    Gunlob Falls, Kakadu

    September 3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We left Edith Springs early and headed into Kakadu. Our first stop via a terrible 15km corrugated road was Gunlob. A 1km uphill trail brought us to a top waterhole and waterfall. It was like an infinity pool. The water was beautiful. Down below, a recent croc sighting kept us out of the water,Read more